Night of debuts in Champions League

The 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich was anything but the ideal start to the Champions League for FC Barcelona, but the night brought a number of debuts for whom 14 September 2021 will nevertheless always be a special day. 

One of those was Luuk de Jong. Just five days after being presented at Camp Nou, the Dutchman got his first game for the club wearing the number 17 shirt in front of 39,000 spectators. 

He was joined up front by international team-mate Memphis Depay, getting his first Champions League start for Barça although he sadly saw very little of the ball, despite always being ready to offer options and looking dangerous from dead ball situations.

There was also an official debut for 18-year-old Alejandro Balde, who replaced Jordi Alba for the last 20 minutes, and certainly made his presence felt in his short spell on the park.

Although they had already made their official debuts, tonight was also the first taste of Champions League football for Yusuf Demir and Gavi, who came on for the last half hour or so.